Opposition Lawmaker Joins Plea for an Autonomous Tibet

Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay has joined other international parliamentarians in a call for peaceful talks over an autonomous Tibetan territory.

“This is a push from internationals who participated as members of parliament from many countries,” Son Chhay told VOA Khmer.

Son Chhay said negotiations between Dalai Lama and the Chinese was a necessary first step that should be pushed.

Tibet has a government in exile led by the Dalai Lama, following a Chinese takeover of the territory in the 1950s.

In a speech to Tibetans in exile on the 50th anniversary of Democracy Day, Son Chhay said he sympathized with the Tibetan people.

“Pol Pot's regime was a regime that applied the policies of China...and the Cambodian people suffered in this regime, died, and were almost extinguished,” he said. “We understand that is the suffering of Tibet.”

“I also join with the Tibetans in wishing there should be an immediate resolution, in a good way, for giving the proper rights to thousands of [Tibetan] people who live on Indian land to return to their homeland,” he said.

He applauded the non-violent struggle of the exiled government in India to create an autonomous state.